When does the placenta kick in?

[Maruschke]

Hi All

Just wondering when the placenta starts working? Is it 12, 13 or 14 weeks?

I am finding it hard to pick a date when it will be safe to tell people. We had a heartbeat at 6w3d but I know this means little in terms of risk! We had low progeterone to start with, I am on pessaries, so I am nervous about the placenta kicking in properly.

Is 12 weeks safe? I was thinking 14 but I don't know if I could hide the bump that long (or hold my tongue, LOL).

[Tobily]

The placenta actually starts to function around 10 weeks.
Most studies have shown that the risk of miscarriage drops significantly between 10 and 12 weeks.
Once a late first trimester scan shows a healthy heartbeat and baby your odds of miscarriage are around 2%....so pretty safe to start sharing the joy

Congratulations btw!

[Inanna]

I have to say it's a bit of a misnomer about when the placenta begins to function. Essentially if functions as the pregnancy grows... The baby and the placenta are essential together. When it takes over the hormonal production is usually complete by about 14 weeks.

As Tobily says the risk of miscarriage is very low after 12 weeks - it happens but statistically it's unlikely.

[Maruschke]

Thanks everyone for your input. So if there is no problems at 14 weeks (last scan will be 12 weeks) then do you think it is safe? I know unfortunately that no-one is ever guaranteed a safe passage through pregnancy. I am a size 12, this is my first pregnancy, and I am hoping to keep it a secret for that long.

I know a lot of women are busting at the seems to tell people, but hubby and I are still getting used to the idea and would like some more time together where no one else knows to talk things through and enjoy it.

[Tobily]

I have to say it's a bit of a misnomer about when the placenta begins to function. Essentially if functions as the pregnancy grows... The baby and the placenta are essential together. When it takes over the hormonal production is usually complete by about 14 weeks.

.

That's actually a clearer answer FC It doesn't just switch on one day, it's a gradual process that completes at different times but usually around 12 weeks. Until this time the corpus luteum provides progesterone to sustain the pregnancy.

[Inanna]

Statistically you would be considered "very safe" at 14 weeks (or 12 weeks)

Xanthe is a lovely name! Wishing you lots of luck and good wishes for your pregnancy.

[Freya]

My OB and midwife both said they count it from 12wks but can be between 10-14wks like the others stated. Id go with 12wks, m/c risk is super low after that!

[Maruschke]

I am such a private person. I would find it incredibly difficult to have to go back and tell people that I lost the baby. It is something that I just want to go through with my DH if it ever happens. I dont know why this is such a private issue for me.

I have tried to ask my OBS about the chances of m/c after 12 weeks, and when the placenta kicks in, but he (rudely) refuses to talk about it, and says that we can deal with it when / if it happens. He prefers for his patients to think positive. I would rather be informed .

[SamiH]

[QUOTE=oscaroscar;1436548]I am such a private person. I would find it incredibly difficult to have to go back and tell people that I lost the baby. It is something that I just want to go through with my DH if it ever happens.

Hi - it is for the reason above I would personally wait until 14 weeks. Last time we told people at 12 wks, the next u/s unfortunately showed no heartbeat and it was hard to tell people - we hadn't told the world, just family and a few key friends. This time I waitied until 16 wks but work people guessed anyway cos I was sick

Good luck and hang in there. It certainly is a very personal decision when to share

[Inanna]

I just need to say whilst loss in the second trimester does happen it is not common.
Pregnancy is an unknown - most of the time all works out perfectly but sometimes this does not happen.

Pregnancy loss after the 1st trimester is still statistically low.

[myson]

hang on to your special news as long as you can Oscar. thats my advice anyway. its a very special time for you and your partner. once the word is out its like you become public property.

also i have had 2 m/c's. the first one everyone new about. we told everyone at 12 weeks and i m/c at 13 weeks. PLEASE dont freak, thats not why im telling you this, it was a very rare thing. but what happened is that word was just getting around that i was pg and everyone started congratulating me and i had lost the bub already. it was really hard to tell people thanks... but i lost the baby....

the second one i lost at 7 weeks and no one new. being very private myself, i found it much easier this way.

hope this hasnt sounded too negative or depressing. just my opinion....

[Maruschke]

Myson - that wasn't too negative at all. m/c is tough . I am just a private person and want wait til at least 12 weeks or longer if the placenta hasn't kicked in by then, but I don't know how to tell???

I have almost come to the conclusion anyway that I will wait til 14 weeks. However a coworker saw me receive an email notification from BB today so maybe the grapevine will start spreading the news...

[Shanti]

Oscar - we only told our parents at 6wks and then everyone else at 12wks+..... we gradually told people and still were telling people at 14weeks and more.....
We just let everyone find out slowly over time..... I too, am a very private person and i loved just me and DH knowing and kinda wished i'd waited til 12weeks to even tell the IL's as they pestered me to tell the news to everyone but i had to explain to them that we wanted to wait because in case of chance of m/c.....

Statistically you are reasonably safe from m/c after 12weeks yet of course like the others have said there is no guarantee.

I'd say wait til 14weeks to be even more sure
*edit* i read somewhere placenta kicks in around weeks 12-14 but i could be wrong!